For the 2019 season, Pop Warner becomes the first youth sports league in the nation to ban the 3 point stance. Some other notable changes include no kickoffs at the Pee Wee (9-11 year-old) level. Pop Warner’s 2016 rule banning kickoffs in its three youngest age groups will be introduced at its Pee Wee division this season. Instead of kicking the ball off following a score or to start a half it will be placed at the 35-yard line. This isn't a new thing since the NFL and the newly formed AAF also has no kick-offs. Another notable change is adding alternative to Age-Weight. Pop Warner leagues may continue the current structure of divisions based on a player’s age and weight or it can now implement a division by age only. Currently, an estimated 75-80% of youth football leagues nationally abide by an age-only structure. Almost all middle schools in our central Texas area do not abide by any weight restriction, so adding a "no weight" alternative will be good for those moving in to football in middle school.
Over the last 10 years, Pop Warner has brought the following changes..
To teach kids how to better recognize if they or a teammate have suffered a concussion, Pop Warner is providing access to CrashCourse, an interactive concussion education program developed by TeachAids, a nonprofit education initiative, and researchers at Stanford University.
Pop Warner offers Rookie Tackle, a program to help kids transition from Flag Football to 11-player tackle. It is played on a smaller field with fewer players and meant to introduce the sport.
In 2016, Pop Warner announced contact is restricted to 25 percent of practice time.
Pop Warner coaches are mandated to train in USA Football’s Heads Up Football program, where safer approaches to tackling and blocking are taught.
In 2012, Pop Warner banned full-speed head-on, blocking or tackling drills where players lined up more than 3 yards apart.
In 2010, Pop Warner implemented the first youth sport concussion policy. Under the policy, any participant removed from play due to a head injury may not return to Pop Warner activities until he or she is evaluated – and receives written clearance – by a licensed medical professional trained in the evaluation and management of concussions.
To ensure that Pop Warner stays on the forefront of health and safety issues and any medical developments that may affect our young athletes, Pop Warner formed an independent Medical Advisory Committee in 2010. Led by neurosurgeons, researchers, pediatricians and sports medicine professionals, the committee is focused on the prevention, proper identification and treatment of concussions; hydration awareness and proper nutrition guidelines; and general health and safety issues.